Lester Big 6

Question 1

How do you maintain IFR currency?

Answer 1

Within the preceding 6 calendar months, you must have performed and logged 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures, and interception and tracking of courses using a navigation system. If you are within 6 months of your last month of currency, you need only take an appropriate safety pilot with you as you do the approaches, holds, tracking needed to bring you up to currency. If you allow your currency to lapse beyond the 6 month grace period, you need to see an instructor for an IPC.

Question 2

What are the required wx minimums at your destination and your alternate?

Answer 2

You must file an alternate if within 1 hour before and after your ETA the wx forecast at your destination is less than a 2,000 foot ceiling or the visibility is forecast to be less than 3 miles. If required to file an alternate, the standard minimums for the forecast at your ETA at that airport must be at least a 600 foot ceiling with 2 miles visibility if the airport has a precision approach, or an 800 foot ceiling with 2 miles visibility if the airport does not have a precision approach.

Question 3

What are the mandatory IFR reports?

Answer 3

• Vacating any previously assigned altitude or flight level
• Altitude changes during VFR on top
• Unable to maintain at least 500 fpm climb
• Missed approach
• Airspeed changes of at least 5% or 10 knots whichever is greater
• Time and altitude upon reaching a holding fix or point to which cleared
• Leaving a hold or fix
• Any loss of navigation or communication equipment
• Any information related to safety of flight
• Any “solid tri-angles” on the low-altitude chart

Question 4

Explain appropriate ‘lost comm’ procedures.

Answer 4

Route – AVE F, Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed
Altitude – MEA, highest of the Minimum, Expected, or Assigned

Question 5

What 3 things need to be in place before you may descend below published minimums on an approach?

Answer 5

• You must be in a position from which you can make a normal approach and landing.
• You must have the required flight visibility.
• You must have the runway environment in sight including at least one of the following: approach light system (if that is all you see, you may descend only to within 100 feet of the TDZE), the threshold, the threshold markings, the threshold lights, the runway end identifier lights, the visual approach slope indicator, the touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings, the touchdown zone lights, the runway or runway markings, the runway lights.

Question 6

What are the 3 criteria for a standard instrument departure?

Answer 6

• Be at least 35’ AGL at the departure end of the runway.
• Climb gradient of at least 200 feet per nautical mile.
• Climb to at least 400’ AGL before turning.